Calculator



Feb. 11, 1941.L .w. A. JERMY 2,231,409

CALCULATOR Filed-NOV. 21, 1958 ENVENTR.

Patented Feb. 11, 1941 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE S Claims.

My invention relates to a calculator or calculating instrument.

One of the principal objects of this invention is to provide a device of this class for adding and subtracting common fractions, or their equivalents, and mixed numbers, and for adding and subtracting the same rapidly and accurately.

Another important object of this invention is to provide a device of this class which is simple and economical of construction proportionate to the functions adapted to be performed thereby, one which is compact and durable, and one which is simple to operate.

A further important object of this invention is to provide novel means of stopping the opposite rotation of the calculating or operating member in the same position, and also means of checking, at the same location, the movement of a stylet used for operating saidmember.

An important object also is the provision of means, in an instrument of this class, whereby the stylet may be guided directly from the stylet guide groove of one series of characters to a similar groove of another or multiple or fractional series of characters.

With these and other objects in View, as will appear hereinafter, I have devised a calculator, as will be hereinafter described in detail and particularly set forth in the appended claims, reference being had to the accompanying drawing and to the characters of reference thereon, which form a part of this application, in which:

Fig. 1 is a front or top view of my calculator in a preferred form of construction;

Fig. 2 is a similar view thereof, but in section, with the section taken through 2-2 of Fig. 3;

Fig. 3 is a transverse section taken through 3-3 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary transverse section taken through 4 4 of Fig. l;

Fig. 5 is a View of the stylet which may be used; and,

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary front or top view of the calculator in a moved position.

My calculator is enclosed in a casing cr frame I, which may be circular in shape, as shown, and which is provided primarily with three shallow circular recesses la, Ib and lc, the two latter preferably Within the circular outline or in the middle of the former. In these shallow recesses are rotatably mounted the calculating or operating members 2, 3 and 4, all of which are preferably discs or flat annular members. The operating member or annulus 2 is held in place by a retaining annular plate or ring 5, and the members 3 and 4 are held in position by a circular retaining plate 6. These plates may be secured in place by screws 'l or other suitable means.

As shown in the drawing, the recess la, in which the annulus 2 is located, is annular and is located near the periphery of the circular casing or frame. The calculating or operating member 2 is located centrally or guided at its radially inner edge by the radially inner wall of the recess la. At the whole of said inner edge of the member or annulus 2 are equally spaced notches 2a, equal in number and positioned in radial alignment with characters 2b. The notches 2a are positioned opposite and accessible through a circular slot or channel A, formed between the adjacent edges of the retaining plates 5 and 6. The characters, in this instance are fractions advancing in sixty-fourths and ranging from Zero (0) to sixtythree sixty-fourths (6%4) and are equally spaced over the whole circumference. If desired, the ldecimal equivalents of these fractions may be placed opposite the same. The outside diameter of the annulus is considerably smaller than the outer diameter of the recess la. At the periphery is a stop lug 2c, which extends beyond the periphery such a distance only that the annulus may be freely rotated, with the lug clearing the outer or adjacent wall of said recess. In said outer Wall is an arcuate notch ld Within which is seated to slide a movable step 8. This mov* able stop extends between the bottom of the notch Id and the outer Wall of the annulus, and is so constructed that the lug 2c is not permitted to pass. The width of the lug and the length of the stop are such that the rotary movement of the disc in opposite directions is checked at substantially the same position. This position is indicated by the character 0 on the disc, which registers with an index portion or may be seen through a window 5e. This window is shaped preferably so that the fractions and their decimal equivalents may be seen therethrough.

On the face of the retaining platey 5 are characters or fractions 5b which correspond identically with the characters 2b kand are similarly spaced. These characters 5b increase progres-- sively in value from the window 5a and are inten-ded to evaluate the notches 2b extending from the window to the fraction `designation in question.

The members or discs .t and 4 may be identical in construction. They are rotatably mounted on central hubs I@ and if, andare provided at their peripheries with equally spaced notches 3@ and 4a, respectively, which maybe seen and are accessible through arcuate, substantially semicircular, slots 6a and 6b in the plate S. These discs have unit characters 3b and 4b, respectively, ranging from zero to nine (9), positioned opposite ten of said notches, and which may register with index portions or may be seen through windows 6c and 6d, respectively, in the retaining plate 6. Each disc has also a stop lug, designated 3C and lic, respectively, for stopping or checking the rotation of the respective disc, when rotated in either direction. These lugs 3C and 4 are preferably radial elongations of portions between adjacent notches 3a and 4a, respectively. A portion, that is, approximately one-half, of the recesses lb and lc is enlarged, as indicated by ig and IJ', respectively, to permit free movement of said stop lugs for approximately one-half revolution of the discs 3 and 4. At the ends of these diametrical enlargements are provided stops or shoulders, those in the recess lb being designated Ii and Il', and those in the recess i@ being designated Ik and i1, the first mentioned shoulder in each recess stopping the discs in their zero (0) positions, as seen through the windows, and the last mentioned shoulder in each recess stopping said discs when the numeral nine (9) is seen through the windows.

The retaining plate 6 has a short slot or channel Ge which is substantially an elongation of the slot or channel (i2L but spaced from the end thereof. This slot Ge is of a length that the disc may be rotated one notch by the stylet, shown in Fig, 5. The end of the channel 6e nearest the channel Ga is connected with the channel A opposite the window 5a, so that the stylet may be moved readily from the notch in the disc 2, opposite the window 5a, into a notch in the disc 3 for rotating the latter one notch clockwise, or so that the stylet may be moved from a notch in the disc 3 into the notch in the member 2 opposite the window 5a.

Similarly, the retaining plate 5 is provided with another short arcuate slot or channel 6g for moving the disc 4 one notch. The end of the channel Eg nearest the channel Sib is connected by a diagonal channel Gh with the opposite end of the channel 6e, so that the stylet may be readily moved from a notch of the disc 3 into a notch of the disc 4, or in the opposite direction.

At the edge of the retaining plate 6 is mounted a slide 5 which has an arcuate movement equal only to the distance of adjacent notches. This slide has a retaining portion 9a which may ride in a groove 6i at the underside of the plate 6 adjacent its periphery. This slide also has a projection Sb which bridges the channel A and may be shifted by the stylet to one of two positions so that either side of the projection will be in alignment with the index portion or window 5a.

The several movable members are preferably tightly tted in their respective recesses or guides, or provided with suitable friction washers or devices, as indicated by i0, that, at least, a slight force is required to move them.

My calculator is operated as follows for the addition of fractions:

The discs 2, 3 and 4 are rst moved to their Zero (0) positions. It is now assumed that the fractions %4, 2l/n, and 3/8 are to be added. The stylet is inserted through the groove or channel A into the notch 2a opposite the fraction 64, designated 5b on the member 5, and the disc is then rotated clockwise until the movement of this stylet is checked by the slide 9. This brings the fraction %4 on the member 2, opposite the window 5e. The stylet is then inserted into the notch 21 opposite the fraction 21A@ on the member 5, and the disc 2 again rotated clockwise until further rotation is checked by the slide. The sum of 51,64 is found opposite the window 5e. The stylet is then inserted into the notch opposite and the disc again rotated clockwise, but this time the rotation of the disc 2 is checked before the stylet engages the slide Si. A Zero (0) in the window 5a indicates that the sum is greater than a whole number. With the stylet still in the same notch, the disc 2 is rotate-:l counterclockwise until the stylet engages the bottom of the slide 9 and moves it to its opposite position. The fraction 11,(,4 is then seen through the window 5a. The stylet is then moved into the diagonal slot Gf and to its limit in the slot or channel 6e. Such movement shifts the disc 3, one notch, so that the unit character l is seen or registers through the window 6C. Thus, the sum of the above fractions is seen to be 1 and 1%* If the disc 3 cannot be rotated clockwise in the channel 8e, or if, when desiring to add a whole number less than iii, the clockwise rotation of the disc 3 is checked before the stylet is moved to the end of the slot 6a, this indicates that the sum is greater than a unit member on the disc and that the disc 4 must be moved to register another digit and the whole sum. If, when inserting the stylet in a notch in the disc 3, the disc is rotated clockwise without engagement of the stylet with the end portion of the slot or channel Gn, that is, ii the movement of the stylet is checked before it reaches the end of the slot 6a, said disc, with the stylet in the same notch, is rotated counterclockwise, and moved through the diagonal slot 6h into the short channel 6g, thereby moving the disc 4 one notch. The sum of the whole numbers is seen through the windows 6d and 6C.

To subtract with my calculator, the foregoing steps are reversed. Assuming that the aforementioned fractions are to be progressively subtracted from lll/t4, the device is adjusted so as to read accordingly on the discs 3 and 2. The slide 9 is shifted to its limit in a clockwise direction. The stylet is then inserted into the notch 2e opposite the window 5aand the disc 2 rotated in a counterclockwise direction until the stylet is opposite %4 designated 5b. Through the window 5a is seen the remainder gli. The stylet is then again inserted into the notch opposite the Window 5a. If it is now attempted to rotate the disc 2 the desired amount in a counterclockwise direction, such rotation is checked. The disc 2 is then returned to its initial position with the stylet against the slide. The stylet is then shifted to the bottom of the slot 6e and moved counterclockwise. This moves the disc 3 one notch and brings a zero (O) to the window 6C. The stylet is also moved through the slot Gf to its limit, thereby shifting the slide in a counterclockwise direction and causing the stylet to move into the notch '.2a opposite the window 5a. The disc 2 is then rotated clockwise until the stylet is opposite the fraction t. In the window 5a will be seen the remainder The slide is then again shifted to its extreme clockwise position and the stylet inserted into the notch opposite the window 5e and the disc 2 rotated in a counterclockwise direction until the stylet is opposite the fraction 1%; of the characters designated 5b. The remainder in the windows 5EL and 6c is zero (O).

Though I have shown and described a particular construction, combination and arrangement of parts and portions, I do not wish to vbe limited to the same, but desire to include in the scope of my invention the construction, combination, and arrangement substantially, as set forth in the appended claims.

I claim:

1. An instrument of the class described, comprising a frame having an arcuate channel in its face and equally spaced characters on said face adjacent the channel, an operating member rotatably mounted in the frame and provided with notches positioned opposite the channel and spaced to register with said characters, said member being also provided with characters positioned adjacent the notches and corresponding to the rst characters, said frame having an index portion with which the characters on said member are adapted to register, said member having a radially extending lug adapted to make a complete revolution, and a movable stop mounted on the frame in the path of said lug adapted to be moved in opposite directions by the operating member for stopping, at the same position, the opposite rotations of the operating member.

2. An instrument of the class described, comprising a frame having an arcuate channel in its face and equally spaced characters on said face adjacent the channel, and an annular operating member rotatably mounted in the frame and provided at its inner edge with radially inwardly directed notches positioned opposite the channel and spaced to register with said characters, said member being also provided with characters positioned radially outwardly from the notches and corresponding to the first characters, said frame having an index portion radially outwardly from the channel with which the characters on said member are adapted to register, said member having a radially extending lug at its periphery adapted to make a complete revolution, and a movable stop mounted on the frame in the path of said lug adapted to be moved in opposite directions by the operating member for stopping, at the same position, the opposite rotations of the operating member.

3. An instrument of the class described, comprising a frame having an arcuate channel in its face and equally spaced characters on said face adjacent the channel, an operating member rotatably mounted in the frame and provided with notches positioned opposite the channel and spaced to register with said characters, said member being also provided with characters positioned adjacent the notches and corresponding to the first characters, said frame having an index portion with which the characters on said member are adapted to register, said member having a radially extending lug adapted to make a complete revolution, a movable stop mounted on the frame in the path of said lug adapted to be moved in opposite directions by the operating member for stopping, at the same position, the opposite rotations of the operating member, and a slide mounted on the frame and extending over the path of the notches and adapted to be moved the distance of adjacent notches.

4. An instrument of the class described, comprising a frame having an arcuate channel in its face and equally spaced characters on said face adjacent the channel, and an annular operating member rotatably mounted in the frame and provided at its inner edge with radially inwardly directed notches positioned opposite the channel and spaced to register with said characters, said member being also provided with characters positioned radially outwardly from the notches and corresponding to the first characters, said frame having an index portion radially outwardly from the channel with which the characters on said member are adapted to register, said member having a radially extending lug at its periphery adapted to make a complete revolution, a movable stop mounted on the frame in the path of said lug adapted to be moved in opposite directions by the operating member for stopping, at the same position, the opposite rotations of the operating member, and a slide mounted on the frame and extending over the path of the notches and adapted to be moved the distance of adjacent notches.

5. Aninstrument of the class described, comprising a frame having an arcuate channel in its face and equally spaced characters on said face adjacent the channel, an operating member rotatably mounted in the frame and provided with notches positioned Opposite the channel and spaced to register with said characters, said member being also provided with characters positioned adjacent the notches and corresponding to the iirst characters, said frame having an index portion with which the characters on said member are adapted to register, said member having a radially extending lug adapted to make a complete revolution, a movable stop mounted on the frame in the path of said lug adapted to be moved in opposite directions by the operating member for stopping, at the same position, the opposite rotations of the operating member, a slide mounted on the frame and extending over the path of the notches and adapted to be moved the distance of adjacent notches, said frame having another arcuate channel in its face and equally spaced characters on said face adjacent the arcuate channel, and another operating member rotatably mounted in the frame and also provided with notches positioned opposite the second channel and spaced to register with the lat ter characters, the latter operating member being aiso provided with characters corresponding to the characters adjacent the arcuate channel, said frame having a second index portion with which the characters on said second operating member are adapted to register, the face of the frame having a short third channel, concentric with the second channel, connected with the first channel, opposite the first index portion.

6. An instrument of the class described, comprising a frame having an arcuate channel in its face and equally spaced characters on said face adjacent the channel, and an annular operating member rotatably mounted in the frame and provided at its inner edge with radially inwardly di rected notches positioned opposite the channel and spaced to register with said characters, said member being also provided with characters positioned radially outwardly from the notches and corresponding to the first characters, said frame having an index portion radially outwardly from the channel with which the characters on said member are adapted to register, said member having a radially extending lug at its periphery adapted to make a complete revolution, a movable stop mounted on the frame in the path of said lug adapted to be moved in opposite directions by the operating member for stopping, at the same position, the opposite rotations of the operating member, a slide mounted on the frame and extending over the path of the notches and adapted to be moved the distance of adjacent notches, said frame having a second arcuate channel in its face radially inwardly from the first channel and provided with equally spaced characters on said face adjacent the second arcuate channel, and another operating member rotatably mounted in the frame and also provided with notches positioned opposite the second channel and spaced to register with the latter characters, the latter operating member being also provided with characters corresponding to the characters adjacent the second arcuate channel, said frame having a second index portion with Which the characters on said second operating member are adapted to register, the face of the frame having a short third channel, concentric with the second channel, connected with the first channel, opposite the first index portion.

7. An instrument of the class described, comprising a frame having an arcuate channel in its face and equally spaced characters on said face adjacent the channel, an operating member rotatably mounted in the frame and provided with notches positioned opposite the channel and spaced to register with said characters, said member being also provided with characters positioned adjacent the notches and corresponding to the rst characters, said frame having an index portion with which the characters on said member are adapted to register, said member having a radially extending lug, and a movable stop mounted on the frame in the path of said lug adapted to be moved in opposite directions by the operating member for stopping the opposite rotations of the operating member.

8. An instrument of the class described, comprising a frame member, an operating member rotatably mounted on the frame member and provided with circumferentially spaced notches, the frame member having spaced characters with which the notches are adapted to register, the operating member being also provided with characters positioned adjacent the notches and corresponding with the first characters, said frame member having an index portion with which the characters on the operating member are adapted to register, and lug and stop means in association with said members, said means having a lug xed with respect to one of the members, said means including a stop having a limited movement with respect to the other member, said lug and stop being so constructed and arranged and having such relative movement that the operating member is adapted to make a complete revolution in opposite directions.

WILLIAM A. JERMY. 

